Lot 0030
Juan Clara Ayats – “Girl in a High Chair”, Bronze Sculpture, Signed
Estimate: 400-500€
Juan Clara Ayats. Girl in a High Chair
Spain, first half of the 20th century.
Bronze, cast, chased and patinated. Height: 22 cm.
Signed Juan Clara and numbered on the reverse of the chair.
A finely observed cabinet bronze of striking anecdotal charm, this sculpture captures a small child at the instant when passive repose turns into restless movement.
The sculptor treats the figure with notable sensitivity: the tousled hair, rounded cheeks, soft limbs, and loose folds of the dress are rendered with a vivid naturalism that stops short of sentimentality.
This work accords closely with the established oeuvre of Juan Clara Ayats, a Spanish sculptor generally listed as active between 1875 and 1958 and particularly associated with patinated bronze figures of children. Born in Villafranca del Panadés, Clara’s artistic journey began at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos in Valencia. He later moved to Paris, where he flourished as an artist, gaining recognition for his innovative and emotive sculptures. Clara’s works often explored human emotions and the female form, showcasing a blend of classical and modern influences. His notable pieces include “La Bacante” and “Eve,” reflecting a mastery of expressive details and refined craftsmanship. Juan Clara’s legacy endures through his impact on Spanish sculpture, leaving a lasting
Starting price: 250€
Estimate: 400-500€
Hammer Price: €
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Lot 0029
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Estimate: 2500-3000€
Lot 0029
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Estimate: 2500-3000€Henryk Kossowski II (1855–1921)
Vercingetorix Triumphant Against the Romans
France (or Poland–France), late 19th century
Patinated bronze, signed on the base
Height: 79.5 cmThis powerful bronze by Henryk Kossowski II depicts Vercingetorix, the Gallic chieftain celebrated for his defiant stand against Julius Caesar during the Gallic Wars (52 BCE). Captured in a moment of victorious exaltation, the figure raises his sword to the sky, his shield and discarded Roman helmet at his feet symbolizing courage, rebellion, and national pride.
Kossowski renders the warrior’s anatomy with exceptional vitality, combining Romantic expressiveness with the academic precision characteristic of late 19th-century sculpture. The dynamic upward gesture and intense facial expression evoke the ideals of liberty and sacrifice, themes deeply resonant in the national art of occupied Poland and in French historical imagination alike.
Born in Poland, Henryk Kossowski II worked extensively in Paris, where he exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français from 1877. His oeuvre includes religious, allegorical, and historical subjects, often blending dramatic movement with refined naturalism.
Starting price: 2000€
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Lot 0028
Paul Dubois. Bronze Sculpture “Le courage militaire”
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Estimate: 2500-3000€Paul Dubois (1829–1905)
“Le Courage Militaire” (Military Courage)
France, circa 1880
Patinated bronze, signed “F. Barbedienne, Fondeur”
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Depicted as a seated Roman warrior, the figure embodies noble restraint and strength through a masterful synthesis of naturalism and classical idealization. The serene dignity of the soldier’s pose and the finely rendered drapery are hallmarks of Dubois’s distinctive “Neo-Florentine” style, blending Renaissance influence with French academic sculpture of the 19th century.
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Lot 0031
Émile Louis Picault – “Saint George”, Bronze Sculpture, Signed
Estimate: 1200-1500€
Lot 0031
Émile Louis Picault – “Saint George”, Bronze Sculpture, Signed
Estimate: 1200-1500ۃmile Louis Picault (1833-1915)
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France, late 19th-early 20th century
Patinated bronze, cast and chased.
Signed E. PICAULT. on the base; titled SAINT GEORGE’S on the front cartouche. Height: 59 cm
A finely cast figure of Saint George shown standing in armor over the slain dragon. Conceived as a victorious knight rather than in the more usual equestrian mode, the saint is rendered with Picault’s characteristic taste for historical theatricality and elegant surface detail. The composition contrasts the calm, self-possessed stance of the hero with the twisting, animated form of the beast beneath his feet, creating a compact yet dramatic silhouette. The carefully articulated cuirass, chain mail, sword belt, and greaves reflect the sculptor’s refined academic manner and his interest in heroic and historicizing subjects. Mounted on an architectural stepped base, the present work is a characteristic example of Picault’s highly successful cabinet sculpture, produced for the late nineteenth-century collector’s market.
Émile Louis Picault was among the most prolific French sculptors of the late nineteenth century, best known for allegorical, patriotic, mythological, and martial subjects. Exhibiting at the Paris Salon from 1863, he achieved wide popularity for cabinet bronzes combining narrative clarity, decorative appeal, and strong sculptural finish.Starting price: 1000€
Estimate: 1200-1500€
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Lot 0032
Pair of Russian Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Red Marble Candlesticks, Pair
Estimate: 1000-1200€
Lot 0032
Pair of Russian Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Red Marble Candlesticks, Pair
Estimate: 1000-1200€Pair of Russian Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Red Marble Candlesticks
A decorative pair of Russian Empire style candlesticks, each with a tapering red marble shaft set on a cylindrical socle and square stepped base, enriched throughout with gilt-bronze mounts. The elegant urn-form candle sockets, fluted collars, beaded details, and circular feet reflect the restrained neoclassical taste associated with the Empire period.
The deep red marble, striking white veining, and warm gilt-bronze ornament create a refined and highly decorative effect. The pair displays the balanced architectural form characteristic of Empire-inspired interior objects.
Material: red marble and gilt-bronze
Form: pair of candlesticks
Height: 23.5 cm each
Visible wear consistent with age and use. Chips, edge losses, and small damages to the marble bases, especially at the corners, as visible in the photographs. Surface wear and minor oxidation to the gilt-bronze mounts.Starting price: 800€
Estimate: 1000-1200€
Hammer Price: €